BRITISH GAME-BIRDS 237 



doves, being only eleven and a half inches in 

 length. Its plumage is very different to that of 

 the other three varieties. The head, neck, and 

 lower part of the back and sides are of a bluish 

 ash colour, the centre part of the back cinnamon- 

 coloured, the breast of a paler hue, the under 

 parts white, tail-feathers tipped with white, and 

 a collarette of black feathers, also tipped with 

 white, on either side of the neck. Its note is 

 a soft, gentle, broken 'coo.' It arrives in 

 this country in May, remaining with us until 

 September, when it takes its departure for 

 the more congenial climates of Africa and 

 Egypt. 



The following constitute our British game- 

 birds : 



Capercailzie, or cock of the woods. 



Black grouse, or blackcock. 



Red or common grouse. 



Pheasant. 



Partridge. 



Quail. 



In addition to these we have the three-toed or 

 Pallas's sand grouse, the ptarmigan, and the red- 

 legged partridge, otherwise called the French 

 partridge. 



As I have frequently heard doubts expressed as 

 to whether woodcock and snipe are game, it may 

 possibly be of use to some of my readers to here 

 remark that the law concerning them is somewhat 



